Summary 2023 — Maine

State Contact

Ms. Willie Grenier
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
P: 207.287.5522
E: maitc@maine.gov
Website

Innovative Programming

One of the most innovative programs we have conducted (with partners) started early in 2023. Through a collaboration with the Aquaculture Innovation Center and funding from the World Wildlife Fund we used the book, "With a Little Kelp from our Friends" to collect (from multiple sources including the NAL curriculum matrix and our state's AITC resource site) and create lessons and activities for 1000 middle school educators. Focused on seaweed education, topics included; history, culture, farming seaweed, uses for seaweed in our everyday lives (we all use seaweed products ever day!), climate change, and much more. Presentations were conducted at our Summer Teachers Workshop and special full-day seaweed education trainings were held, both virtually and in person. This completed phase one in November and our communication to these teachers continues.

Phase two, starting in September 2023, moved the focus to the younger grades and our Ag Literacy project. The WWF funded a portion of the cost of our 2024 book, "The Wakame Gatherers", and helped provide volunteer readers for 1080 more classrooms, grades PK to 4. The book follows two grandmothers, one from our state and one from Japan, who with a granddaughter in common become friends while learning about Wakame (seaweed) and the cultural differences of how it is grown and harvested. Many readers could compare and contrast farming on land and in the water. This project is just wrapping up and the evaluations coming in are very positive. Through a partnership with the school for Asian Studies the author was able to read in one area of the state, and schools that have teachers involved at both levels are sending pictures from their seaweed Week or Fair activities held as a culmination activity across age levels.

Because of the importance of aquaculture in our state this innovative program has not only increased awareness, but created new partnerships that will continue long into the future as we discuss food systems and climate change at multiple levels.

Major Program Impacts or Outcomes

• Teacher evaluations indicated an increase in agricultural awareness and interest.
• 80 % of pre-service teachers reached planned to use materials in their future teaching.
• 10% Increase in number of Ag Literacy Week classroom registrations

Program Leader Biosketch

Willie Sawyer Grenier has worked with, and for, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) since 1998. After graduating from the University of Maine with a degree in Agriculture Education and certification to teach Secondary Science, she taught for several years in Maine and the Maritimes. In 1997 she discovered AITC and soon her volunteer role emerged into a part-time position, and then full-time. The organization has grown every year, especially with the addition of the Agricultural License Plate in 2007. Now the MAITC program is funding $60K in agriculture education grants annually, collecting and disseminating curriculum, training pre-service and in-service teachers, and annually impacts over 200,000 Maine school children in grades PreK-12. Willie and husband, Mike are parents to two grown children and Grandma to their precious Brianna Bee.